A 4-year-old boy was taken from a park in the West Midlands while his mother cared for a baby. He is now safe, but the suspect has not been found.
West Midlands Police are searching for a suspect after a reported abduction at Haden Hill Park in Cradley Heath. The boy was found in nearby woodland
On Thursday, June 18, in the afternoon, just after 3 pm, a four-year-old boy disappeared from Haden Hill Park in Cradley Heath, a town in the West Midlands about eight miles from Birmingham. Police were called to the park and found the child minutes later in nearby woodland. He was found safe. Police have a description of a suspect, but no one has been arrested.
Police say this appears to be an isolated incident. While this is meant to reassure the community as details emerge, it is hard to feel at ease when no arrest has been made.
West Midlands Police say the suspect is a Black male in his late teens, short, with curled hair, clean-shaven, and wearing black clothes during the incident on June 18. Detectives are reviewing CCTV from the area and are urgently asking for witnesses, especially anyone in the park that afternoon who may have recorded video on their phone. More officers will be patrolling Haden Hill Park and the surrounding area in the coming days.
“We’re in the early stages of the investigation, and specially trained officers are speaking to the boy and his family as we look to establish exactly what happened,” a West Midlands Police spokesperson said. “We believe this is an isolated incident, but we understand how concerning it is and understand the impact it will have in the area and to the local community.”
Investigators still need to determine what happened in the minutes between when the boy disappeared from the pond and when he was found in the woods. It is not yet clear if the child wandered off and was followed, if he was carried, or what the suspect did before and after. Police are calling this a reported abduction and are treating it as a serious crime. Officers with experience in child protection and trauma are working with the boy and his family to understand what happened.
If you have any information, please contact West Midlands Police on 101 and quote log number 3966-180626. You can also reach Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555111. Witnesses who have mobile footage from the park that afternoon can upload it directly to the police through their public evidence portal.
The child is safe. Police are monitoring the park. The suspect has not yet been identified.
